Friday 29 July 2011

Illamasqua Haul





ulso excited to slap this all on my face! :-)


hello beautifuls,

so i had a super amazing delivery from illamasqua :-D and i’m over the moon with it! i looked round the store in the trafford centre a few months back and cos of the annoying staff that wouldn’t leave me alone and kept recommending products i wasn’t interested in or didn’t want i didn’t end up getting anything and went to seek refuge at the selfridges food hall! but illamasqua is a brand i’ve always wanted to try and always kind of knew i’d love. so with my 40% professional discount i really went a bit mad and bought all this stuff.

it arrived today with a two day deliver time which i was impressed with - and some of the products have really blown me away! where as there are a few duds that i’m disappointed with.

i am completely in love with the brushes, the no.1 blusher brush is so so unbelievably soft, not at all scratchy, and is the perfect shape for the hollows of cheekbones and for a thicker highlight. and as daft as it sounds it actually picks up more product than any other blush brush i’ve used! this is very useful especially for quick application, but could also be a fault (its usually better to build up with blush rather than wack too much on by accident!) buttt…. the brush is beyond amazing incredible at blending! this brush honestly took my breath away and not makeup products have done that!

the blending brush 2 is made with the same hair and is again so so soft and incredible, it’s so relaxing just brushing it along your skin! popping on makeup always relaxes me but with these amazing brushes i might well be off to sleep! the blending brush is a tad too big for precise eyeshadow application, this would be used more for colours that you want an all over eyelid wash.. it’s definitely too big for any crease work, but again it is amazing at blending, so if you firstly applied your colours as blocks, this brush is completely perfect at blending out your shadows so they appear to intertwine seemlessly together, without making the products colour fade which is what generally happens when blending. this brush is a great size for applying highlight too - don’t ever confine your brushes to one use only!

the false lashes are brill but for £12 they to be honest are just regular lashes similar to eylure or normal drugstore brands, so if i hadn’t got my 40% off i would have been pretty disappointed spending that amount of money on lashes.

the stagnate nail varnish from the toxic nature collection is just wonderful, a perfect taupy nude that i’ve been after for ages and will compliment a (fake :) ) tan perfectly.

one incredible huge disappointment is the eyeshadow in moonflower, on the site ‘it is a creamy white with a shimmer finish’ but actually it only offers a pale white glow that is really a bit pointless! a was after a strong white shadow that was really pigmented but actually this is a slight shimmer that is unpigmented enough that it would be better used as a highlight (which is what i’ll use it for rather than an eyeshadow). the other shadow i got was a deep purple ‘savage’, when blended it’s more of a plum but is still a little less pigmented than i’d like, but a whole heap better than moonflower. it’s a great crease shade and i’ll definitely be experimenting with it later on! :-)

i got one of the liquid metals in phenomena, and again, a little less pigmented than i’d like, it would take atleast three layers of building up for it to be as super silvery metallic that i’d like, but i guess the fact its buildable means i can use it over any colour eyeshadow or lippy to give a silvery sheen - so it can be used in different ways :-) when it is built up its fab, very multidimensional and the glittery bits are so unbelievably fine they’re unnoticable but it still has that amazing sparkle of a glitter. i usually hate cream eyeshadows cos they always seem to crease or feel too sticky, but i can see myself really loving this product! hopefully with a bit of urban decay primer potion it won’t crease! :-)

the sealing gel is a product i’ve been after for a while, it can be used to turn any powder product into a strong waterproof gel/liquid, so can be used to create eyeliners, lip colours… looking forward to trying this out and creating some funky eyeliner shades!

the lipstick is an amazing colour, a blue pink similar to macs snob/saint germain but has more of a matte texture and seems less moiturising so might be a little more long lasting. i haven’t used it on my lips yet so i’ll let you know how it goes! it smelt amazing like vanilla - very similar to mac lippys!

the lipgloss is a fun candy pink that will provide either a slight pink sheen on lips, or really bring out the funky pink lipstick! again not sure about the texture or longevitiy of this product, fingers crossed it’s a good en!

the powder blush is just fabulous, it comes out of the pan so easily it’s actually unbelievable, i only dabbed the blusher brush onto the product so so gently and enough product came off to completely do both cheeks! this hopefully means that the blush should last me a long time! i’m not one to use blush much as my cheeks are naturally so flushed and red that it’s a constant battle to hide redness, so the thought of repinking my cheeks just seems a tad ridiculous, but after seeing a lot of pink haired girlies sporting super pink cheeks and lips (sj-ox you’re one of them! :-) ), i’ve decided it’s a look definitely work trying! this blush was on illamasquas best sellers list and after only spending a few minutes with it i can really see why, i’m already blown away by it - and can see it becoming a staple product in my kit :-)

the precision ink eyeliner is such a deep black it’s fab! i’m really impressed with it, and after swatching it on my hand it dried so quickkly and now seems very unbudgable! i’ve been rubbing it and even wet it and it’s still not moving - amazing, perfect for long nights out!

the medium pencil i got in shade manic is for my eyebrows, and it’s the most perfect colour ever to match up with my hair (along with macs incredible magenta which is my current staple product). the formulation was so soft and smooth on my skin, buttttt only a slight rubbing means all the product has gone! when i’m using it as the sole product for my brows i really need it to be longlasting and wear and tear proof, so i really hope this will be ok! :-)

the pure pigment in android is a touch disappointing as it looked a deep bluey black with silver glitter pigment through it - like a night sky! but in actual fact the bluey black shade pales out on skin and leaves a glitter wash over it - a real shame but i reckon a bit of perseverance and a lot of building might get this product to have a touch more pigmentation.

the matt primer so far seems really impressive, i only applied it to my hand and it suddenly seemed extremely soft but also so unoily and matte it was really impressive! can’t wait to try this on my often oily and sweaty skin hahaha!

the skin base foundation so far has really impressed me - it smells really nice, kind of fruity and makeuppy all mixed together! it seems quite a thick well pigmented formula that looks like it will provide good coverage, so hopefully it’s going to be another product i’ll love! the only thing i found disappointing with the foundation and primer is they seem to be in small bottles, you probably get the same amount of product for your money as other stuff, but it just seems so small! :-(

i’ve wanted the powdered metal in ether for absolutely ages and am glad to be ticking that off my makeup wants list! its a yellowy gold powder that is really super fine with a slight shimmer, and is just the perfect colour for highlighting the tops of cheekbones, and the body. the yellowy gold tones should give me a really healthy glow, i’ll just have to be careful i don’t go overboard with it or i might end up looking like i have jaundice hahaha!

would love to know what you guys favourite illamasqua products are, but also would love to know what your fave makeup products are in general :-)

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Here's what exactly I ordered with prices and shades - don't be too shocked by the price, I get a good chunk off with professional discount ;-)

hello beautifuls :-)  so today i had a super amazing delivery from illamasqua :-D and i’m over the moon with it! i looked round the store in the trafford centre a few months back and cos of the annoying staff that wouldn’t leave me alone and kept recommending products i wasn’t interested in or didn’t want i didn’t end up getting anything and went to seek refuge at the selfridges food hall! but illamasqua is a brand i’ve always wanted to try and always kind of knew i’d love, so now i have an interview next week to work on their leeds counter, i knew i really needed to step up my game with the products! so with my 40% professional discount i really went a bit mad and bought all this stuff (well i need a full face of illamasqua products for the interview, and they’ve told me i have to take along my five favorite brushes and products (which i think is actually quite out of order, mac is a much more established and sought after brand - they didn’t expect me to take my own products along (scott reckons it’s a ploy to sell more products))). it arrived today with a two day deliver time which i was impressed with - and some of the products have really blown me away! where as there are a few duds that i’m disappointed with.  i am completely in love with the brushes, the no.1 blusher brush is so so unbelievably soft, not at all scratchy, and is the perfect shape for the hollows of cheekbones and for a thicker highlight. and as daft as it sounds it actually picks up more product than any other blush brush i’ve used! this is very useful especially for quick application, but could also be a fault (its usually better to build up with blush rather than wack too much on by accident!) buttt…. the brush is beyond amazing incredible at blending! this brush honestly took my breath away and not makeup products have done that! the blending brush 2 is made with the same hair and is again so so soft and incredible, it’s so relaxing just brushing it along your skin! popping on makeup always relaxes me but with these amazing brushes i might well be off to sleep! the blending brush is a tad too big for precise eyeshadow application, this would be used more for colours that you want an all over eyelid wash.. it’s definitely too big for any crease work, but again it is amazing at blending, so if you firstly applied your colours as blocks, this brush is completely perfect at blending out your shadows so they appear to intertwine seemlessly together, without making the products colour fade which is what generally happens when blending. this brush is a great size for applying highlight too - don’t ever confine your brushes to one use only!  the false lashes are brill but for £12 they to be honest are just regular lashes similar to eylure or normal drugstore brands, so if i hadn’t got my 40% off i would have been pretty disappointed spending that amount of money on lashes.  the stagnate nail varnish from the toxic nature collection is just wonderful, a perfect taupy nude that i’ve been after for ages and will compliment a (fake :) ) tan perfectly.  one incredible huge disappointment is the eyeshadow in moonflower, on the site ‘it is a creamy white with a shimmer finish’ but actually it only offers a pale white glow that is really a bit pointless! a was after a strong white shadow that was really pigmented but actually this is a slight shimmer that is unpigmented enough that it would be better used as a highlight (which is what i’ll use it for rather than an eyeshadow). the other shadow i got was a deep purple ‘savage’, when blended it’s more of a plum but is still a little less pigmented than i’d like, but a whole heap better than moonflower. it’s a great crease shade and i’ll definitely be experimenting with it later on! :-)  i got one of the liquid metals in phenomena, and again, a little less pigmented than i’d like, it would take atleast three layers of building up for it to be as super silvery metallic that i’d like, but i guess the fact its buildable means i can use it over an colour eyeshadow or lippy to give a silvery sheen - so it can be used in different ways :-) when it is built up its fab, very multidimensional and the glittery bits are so unbelievably fine they’re unnoticable but it still has that amazing sparkle of a glitter. i usually hate cream eyeshadows cos they always seem to crease or feel too sticky, but i can see myself really loving this product! hopefully with a bit of urban decay primer potion it won’t crease! :-) the sealing gel is a product i’ve been after for a while, it can be used to turn any powder product into a strong waterproof gel/liquid, so can be used to create eyeliners, lip colours… looking forward to trying this out and creating some funky eyeliner shades! the lipstick is an amazing colour, a blue pink similar to macs snob/saint germain but has more of a matte texture and seems less moiturising so might be a little more long lasting. i haven’t used it on my lips yet so i’ll let you know how it goes! it smelt amazing like vanilla - very similar to mac lippys! the lipgloss is a fun candy pink that will provide either a slight pink sheen on lips, or really bring out the funky pink lipstick! again not sure about the texture or longevitiy of this product, fingers crossed it’s a good en! the powder blush is just fabulous, it comes out of the pan so easily it’s actually unbelievable, i only dabbed the blusher brush onto the product so so gently and enough product came off to completely do both cheeks! this hopefully means that the blush should last me a long time! i’m not one to use blush much as my cheeks are naturally so flushed and red that it’s a constant battle to hide redness, so the thought of repinking my cheeks just seems a tad ridiculous, but after seeing a lot of pink haired girlies sporting super pink cheeks and lips (sj-ox you’re one of them! :-) ), i’ve decided it’s a look definitely work trying! this blush was on illamasquas best sellers list and after only spending a few minutes with it i can really see why, i’m already blown away by it - and can see it becoming a staple product in my kit :-)  the precision ink eyeliner is such a deep black it’s fab! i’m really impressed with it, and after swatching it on my hand it dried so quickkly and now seems very unbudgable! i’ve been rubbing it and even wet it and it’s still not moving - amazing, perfect for long nights out!  the medium pencil i got in shade manic is for my eyebrows, and it’s the most perfect colour ever to match up with my hair (along with macs incredible magenta which is my current staple product). the formulation was so soft and smooth on my skin, buttttt only a slight rubbing means all the product has gone! when i’m using it as the sole product for my brows i really need it to be longlasting and wear and tear proof, so i really hope this will be ok! :-)  the pure pigment in android is a touch disappointing as it looked a deep bluey black with silver glitter pigment through it - like a night sky! but in actual fact the bluey black shade pales out on skin and leaves a glitter wash over it - a real shame but i reckon a bit of perseverance and a lot of building might get this product to have a touch more pigmentation.  the matt primer so far seems really impressive, i only applied it to my hand and it suddenly seemed extremely soft but also so unoily and matte it was really impressive! can’t wait to try this on my often oily and sweaty skin hahaha! the skin base foundation so far has really impressed me - it smells really nice, kind of fruity and makeuppy all mixed together! it seems quite a thick well pigmented formula that looks like it will provide good coverage, so hopefully it’s going to be another product i’ll love! the only thing i found disappointing with the foundation and primer is they seem to be in small bottles, you probably get the same amount of product for your money as other stuff, but it just seems so small! :-( i’ve wanted the powdered metal in ether for absolutely ages and am glad to be ticking that off my makeup wants list! its a yellowy gold powder that is really super fine with a slight shimmer, and is just the perfect colour for highlighting the tops of cheekbones, and the body. the yellowy gold tones should give me a really healthy glow, i’ll just have to be careful i don’t go overboard with it or i might end up looking like i have jaundice hahaha! would love to know what you guys favourite illamasqua products are, but also would love to know what your fave makeup products are in general :-)  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Here's me with a full face of Illamasqua makeup on...
love it!


and me and Dan being silly sausages :-)


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Tattoo-spiration!

Hello my dear lords and ladies,

I've been recently umming and aahing whether or not to get a tattoo, and although I'm currently leaning towards the idea, I am currently penniless so there's no way I'll be tattooing up for a few years!
I've never been one to fancy a tattoo simply because I had my lip pierced when I was younger than after four years I decided to take it out cos I didn't want it anymore.. Now I couldn't do that with a tattoo :-S But would I want to? Or would I always see it as a mark of my personality and something I was proud of? I always worried that I'd regret it 'when I was older' but then I realised that I'd most likely laugh and reminisce on a time when I was young and carefree and felt free to express myself. In 100 years my body will be gone into dust.. so would it really matter if it had a bit of ink mixed in? I do also think that the majority of people my age and older that are tattooed is a much higher proportion than it was when my Mom and Dad were growing up - so that age group perceive it as kinda bad I reckon - but when all us get older we'll have seen tattoos all our lives and an older tattooed person will just look normal and totally acceptable. All these thoughts have been whizzing around in my mind of to tattoo, or not to tattoo.



sexwithgirls:  omfuckinggod

Below are a few designs I particularly like ....

The anchor really speaks for my love of marine biology and being out on the open ocean, and the roses and bows just add the pink girly touch that is just me all over :-)

I LOVE the tattoo below - especially the position as it's in such an intimate place and means I'd nearly always have clothes covering the majority of it up so it'd be personal to me, but also be a tattoo that wouldn't cause problems finding a job and whatever other problems being tattooed up might bring. I'd have the rose changed slightly and it coloured in too :-)

AMAZING TATTOO seriously considering getting something similar to this :-)

Have you guys got any thoughts/views? Show me your ink! :-)

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Finally - a bath shoot!

A lot of you will know I've been wanting to do a shoot inspired by the picture below for a LONG time, so I was over the moon when I finally got to work with Amie Parsons of Amie Parsons Photography https://www.facebook.com/AmieParsonsPhotography?sk=wall and model Steph Slater. Scroll down for the final pictures!

stopdropandvogue:  Coco Rocha in Numero 94 June/July 2008.

Let me know what you think! <3




Can't make my mind up which one I love most! :-D

Makeup kisses,


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Imagespiration!

i miss painting :-(

fuckyeahkillerwhales:  Loving the purple!  oh how I miss Canada and nights like this on the water :(
littlefeatherheart:  ♥


Just thought I'd share some images with you that inspire me and my heart :-)

Loves xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Foundation Foundation Foundation

Hello lovelies,

So glad to be back blogging again! :-) I've been super busy and had a few knocks to my confidence but now I'm back full of joy again to tell you guys and dolls all about my thoughts on everything from makeup to the ocean :-)

I want to review all the foundations I've used - it's a question I get asked quite often about my favourite foundation, what I'd recommend, what are different foundations like.. Hopefully I can answer all your questions here! :-) However, don't ask me what foundation shade would match you cos without seeing you face to face there's no way on earth I can tell you for definite! I may have a rough idea but don't want you guys purchasing foundations just based on what shade I think you might be.
Note; all the views I'm giving of the longevity etc. of a foundation are based on it being worn with MAC Prep and Prime skin, and then with a powder such as MAC Mineralise Skin Finish Natural or Body Shop Pressed Powder (which is AMAZING) applied with an Illamasqua Blush Brush.
Anyway, let's get going...

i desperately want to love mac foundations but just cant :-(

MAC Studio Fix Fluid

Most peoples favourite MAC foundation is Studio Fix Fluid. Personally it is one of my favourites that they do but I don't really love or entirely recommend it at all.
It is a medium full coverage foundation which means it'll cover any uneven tones in your skin, mask redness well and just really disguise any problem areas you'd rather not let the general public see! Personally I think it's best applied with fingers, or a MAC 187 brush or a sponge - but that's all down to personal preference, and I definitely prefer application with fingers with any foundation! :-) The foundation glides on and sits well on the skin. However on dry skin days no matter how much I've moisturised my skin, I do feel Studio Fix really enhances the look of my dry skin, making it flakey and thus more noticable :-( It lasts for a reasonable amount of time (I'd say 6hours ish) but then slides off in heat :-( So all in all it is a foundation that does its job reasonably well but is not particularly great. In general I use it to mix with other foundations to make a mix that is more full coverage due to the addition of Studio Fix.

completely in love with my chanel prolumiere foundation :-)

Chanel Pro Lumiere Foundation

Dear old Dan bought me this for my birthday after a Chanel lady in Meadowhall applied it - and boy was I impressed! It is a pretty amazing product, it makes skin look luminous without looking sparkly or too oily - it just seems to make you look like you have a super healthy radiance and warmth. Not many products can make you look like you've just finished a week long pamper session! My main downfall with this product is the coverage, it is Chanels idea of full but too me that just isn't enough! I have quite red cheeks and they still show through slightly.. which I guess is good if you want to look natural but slightly enhanced - but I like to look matte and as if my skin is surrealy perfect! :-) So I have to use this foundation with a lot of Dermablend concealer underneath and usually only use it on reasonably good skin days. This apricot smelling foundation is just lovely and although I have to work around it I'm sure I'll be repurchasing when I run out.


Vichy Dermablend Foundation

Now this foundation isn't for the fainthearted. If you want full full full coverage, no underneath pigment showing through, no undertones coming through - you basically want to mask your skin, then this is the foundation for you. I've only found it in Boots in the UK and online - so if you fancy some pop there :-) This foundation is mainly used for people with skin conditions and more as a corrective makeup - for example to correct pigmentation in the skin, mask scarring or tattoos.. but that doesn't mean you can't use it as everyday makeup. Its formulation has been made to work well around any skin type or condition, so not only was it fine with my slight facial eczema, it actually helped it! Brill :-) It is a thick gloopy liquid and you hardly need any to really get the finish you want. It lasts for ages and I am so impressed with it! The only trouble with it is that it does feel quite thick on so I don't particularly like wearing it in summer on warm days, but for nights out and the rest of the year it's perfect! :-) I'd really recommend it :-D Apart from it smells pretty rank hahaha


MAC Studio Moisture Tint

This is more a tinted moisturiser than foundation but on good skin days, sunny warm days or times when I just don't fancy feeling like I've got a full face of makeup on... I use this because it has a good enough coverage to cover things I don't want to be seen, but feels really light on the skin and it kind of feels like I'm letting my skin breathe without being conscious that I have no makeup on. It lasts reasonably well if you keep doing a few powder touch ups and keep your eye on it :-) I'd really recommend this :-)


Loreal True Match Foundation

Lo and behold my favourite foundation in the world EVER. I could sing from the rooftops till the cows come home about this foundation - it stays on all day, it can be mixed with other foundations to vary the finish and coverage you want, it is medium to almost full coverage, it has a matte coverage when powder is applied over it - it's wonderful! You definitely need to wear powder with it though, my skin looks way too shiny without it. I love this stuff so so much! Plus its cheap enough and Boots always have offers on like buy 2 get 2 free so it means you can get a few shades so anytime of the year you can mix them together to get your perfect shade :-) I think that Loreal made this to make a super similar high street dupe of MAC Studio Fix Fluid but I actually think this is better! So don't go wasting your money on Studio Fix :-)



Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation

Initially I completed hated this foundation with a passion, I slapped too much on and it just made my skin look cakey flakey and dried out! But then I decided to try using a tiny pea sized amount and it blew me away. It covers any discoloration so so well, and it really makes it look like your own skin is just amazing. You need the tiniest amount ever so I reckon the bottle will last foreverrrrrrrrr (however the bottle is pretty badly designed so it's super hard to squeeze once it's getting a bit emptier :-( ). It lasts longer than an average foundation but not for a super super long time but powder certainly helps its longevity. It can also definitely be used as a concealer too/instead and then use it as a foundation over the top too, just use a teeny amount over a small area to help conceal particular bad spots.



MAC Face and Body Foundation

MAC Face and Body foundation is probably my favourite foundation that MAC has to offer. It's super liquid, has an odd smell but I really love it, and makes skin look SO oily, but once you've got used to it and understand it as a product it can work so well for you! Personally, I apply it in layers until I get the desired coverage I'm after (one layer would just look sheer but you can keep applying layers to get a medium coverage). It sticks to skin really well and is very long lasting - and mixed with other foundations will also make them last longer on your skin too. The only problems I encounter with this foundation is first that it makes my skin look so so shiny and feel kind of oily, but with a sweep of powder the shine is banished!, and secondly that it kind of makes my skin feel like it can't breathe! - but you get used to that hahaha. A huge positive is that it really feels like it moisturises my dry skin and it usually makes my eczema less noticable. I think this foundation is a good all rounder and you can just adapt the way you use it to find a method that works for you.


Revlon Photo Ready Foundation

This is another foundation that I'm quite a fan of. Again, like Loreal True Match, I suspect that this is a foundation Revlon have brought out to try and create a dupe of MACs Studio Fix Fluid - as it just seems so similar. I would say it is of comparable quality to Studio Fix and I'm not sure which edges it as the better/worst.. Anyways, I really like this one! It has good coverage, lasts a while (but nowhere near as long as Loreal True Match!!), and when I fancy a change from my faves this is the one I turn to. As well as this, although I've never tried it, apparently it is formulated to look super perfect in photos compared to other foundations :-) and that's always a winner!


MAC Select Foundation

I'm not a particular fan of MAC Select Foundation as I want a medium/full coverage foundation that gives me a matte finish - this is the complete opposite! It gives low coverage with a super sheer finish - which just makes me look completely oily and ridiculous! I sometimes mix it with Studio Fix or True Match to sheer and thin out those relatively thicker foundations - but other than that my Select foundation doesn't get used too much. I reckon it'd be better suited for people with normal/dry skin who have pretty perfect skin with no imperfections that they want to mask.


MAC ProLongwear Foundation

MAC Prolongwear is another foundation that is just too low coverage for me. I did try and build up coverage, but it took so much product and in the end I felt like I had about 3 inches of makeup on! Never a good thing! As I didn't particularly apply this product in the way MAC intended, it definitely didn't live up to its name as Prolongwear - it only lasted 5ish hours and I just wasn't impressed with it at all. However my friend Amy recommends using MAC Prolongwear Concealer as a foundation as it lasts ages and provides good coverage - so I think I might try that! :-)

Clinique Superbalanced Makeup

This was my first ever high end foundation and I was oh so disappointed with it. I explained my skin type and problems to the Clinique lady and she recommended this to me, but all it did was make my skin super oily for days after using it and bring me out in spots :-( Plus when I actually did wear it it just enhanced my dry bits by a ridiculous amount - it made my skin literally look AWFUL! Never to be used again!


Right girlies, that's it for me and my foundation views! I hope I've helped you guys in making decisions on your next foundation purchase.

Let me know if you have any questions with regards anything I've said :-)

Lots of love always

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Wednesday 1 June 2011

101 Posts, 10100 Blog Views - so 101 FAVE PRODUCTS!


Hello lovelies! :-)

First I must apologise for neglecting you my beautiful readers! I've not posted for ages and I simply have no excuse other than perhaps I slight lack of inspiration/motivation! So please, do give me ideas and things you'd like to read about/see, I'm up for anything (kind of).
But as a great big bang to get me back on track blogging.. I've decided to celebrate this being my 101st post, and I've had 10,100 blog viewings, I thought I'd tell you my 101 favourite products! (And I doubt it's going to take much to think of 101 things).. so here goes..
1. Chanel ProLumiere Foundation
2. elf Angled Foundation Brush
3. No17 Lipstick in Beehive
4. MAC 187 Brush
5. Loreal True Match Foundation
6. MAC Blush in Gingerly
7. Lancome Hypnose Mascara
8. Veet In Shower Hair Removal Cream
9. Sanex Hypoallergenic Bath and Shower Gel
10. MAC Mineralise Skin Finish Natural
11. Urban Decay Naked Palette
12. MAC Lipstick in Angel
13. St Moritz Fake Tanning Mousse
14. Sanex Roll On Deoderant
15. Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion
16. Dermacolour Concealer Palette
17. Urban Decay Pencil Eyeliner in Zero
18. yaby Best of Both Worlds Palette
19. MAC Lipliner Pencil in Magenta
20. Urban Decay Big Fatty Mascara
21. MAC Fluidline Eyeliner in Blacktrack
22. Rimmel 1000 Eyes Eyeliner Pencil in Turquoise
23. Urban Decay Book of Shadows III
24. Soap and Glory Breakfast Scrub
25. Rusk Scream Hair Dye in Hot Pink
26. Osmo Berber Hair Treatment Oil
27. Maxfactor 1000 Calorie Mascara
28. Johnsons Baby Wipes
29. Osmo Intensive Deep Repair Mask
30. Rimmel Lip Liner
31. MAC Lustre Drops
32. Boots Brightening Eye Drops
33. Eylure Double Lashes in 204 and 205
34. Duo Eyelash Adhesive
35. Simple Soap
36. Cetaphil Moisturiser
37. MAC Eyeshadow in Vanilla
38. Rimmel Sun Shimmer Instant Tan
39. Superdrug Pink Tanning Mitt
40. Superdrug Pink Exfoliating Gloves
41. MAC Wonder Woman Pink Power Mineralise Skin Finish
42. Boots Cotton Baby Ear Buds
43. MAC 210 Brush
44. MAC Quite Cute Nail Lacquers in Little Girl Type and Ice Cream Cake
45. MeMeMe Beat the Blues Highlighter in Sunbeam
46. MAC Cremesheen Lipgloss in Boy Bait
47. Loreal True Match Blush
48. Colgate Whitening Toothpaste
49. Superdrug Strawberry and Milkshake Lip Balm
50. Lush Snow Fairy Bath and Shower Gel
51. MAC Studio Fix Moisturiser
52. MAC Face and Body Foundation
53. Crown Blusher Brush
54. BarryM Lipgloss in Pastel Pink
55. Avon Nail Polish in Luxe Lavender
56. Avon Kids Detangling Spray
57. Avon Banana and Coconut Detangling Cream
58. ghd Hair Straighteners
59. VO5 Extra Strong Weather Resistant Hair Spray
60. MAC Chromagraphic Pencil in NW15/NC20
61. MAC Champale Highlighter in Chez Chez Lame
62. MAC Champale Lip Gelee in Sintillation
63. MAC Prep and Prime Skin
64. MAC Fix+ Spray
65. Body Shop Pressed Powder Foundation in Number 5
66. Body Shop Sweet Lemon Body Butter
67. MAC Studio Fix Foundation
68. Vichy Dermablend Foundation
69. Lancome Hypnose Perfume
70. Chanel Bronze Universal
71. MAC Snob Lipstick
72. YSL Rouge Volupte Lipstick in Lingerie Pink
73. MAC Dazzleglass in Like Venus
74. MAC Eyeshadow in Beautiful Iris
75. MAC Eyeshadow in Parfair Armour
76. BarryM Liquid Eyeliner
77. GOSH Lipstick in Darling
78. MAC Face Wipes
79. elf Studio Cool Bronzer
80. elf Powder Brush
81. MAC Tinted Moisturiser
82. Shu Uemura Eyelash Curlers
83. Japonesque False Eyelash Applicators
84. MAC Zuca Train Case
85. Eyebrow Razor
86. Sleek Contour and Highlight Palette
87. Z-Palette
88. Kryolan Aqua Colour Palette
89. NYX Round Lipglosses in Baby Pink
90. NYX Lipstick in Tea Rose
91. Stars Makeup Haven Eyeshadow in Bees Knees
92. Sigma Blusher Brush
93. MAC 168 Brush
94. MAC 266 Brush
95. Barry M Lip Liner in Hot Pink
96. MAC Prolongwear Gloss Coat
97. MAC Eyeshadow Spoolys
98. MAC Gently Off Lip and Eye Makeup Remover
99. Stargazer Lipsticks
100. Soap and Glory Wish Upon A Jar Moisturiser
101. Vaseline in Cocoa Butter

That's all folks! :-)
I love so many products and they are all amazing and some how feature in my beauty regime - what are your faves? I'd love to know! :-)

Emily

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Marilyn Monroe - A Timeless Beauty


Beneath the makeup and behind the smile I am just a girl who wishes for the world.


'I am not interested in money, I just want to be wonderful'.

Marilyn Monroe is a woman that still captures our hearts today. A woman of style, class and beauty who still somehow captures timeless glamour in all the areas of life she touched - her words and quotes, her images, her movies. I myself and I think most women aspire to capture some sort of Marilyn-esque style in their lives, whether it be that special night we wear heels, spending extra time on our makeup, or just simply making an effort to feel or act more womanly - she is a woman that will forever be the pinnacle of what a woman should be.
Today would have been her 85th birthday, and I would have loved to see how she would have continued through her incredible life, however, I guess the best die young.
Hope your beautiful white birthday dress isn't billowing too much above the air vents of heaven Miss Monroe! :-)

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Sunday 22 May 2011

Guest Blog: How Permanent Hair Removal Works

Hello lovelies,

So a few weeks ago the lovely Maria who blogs for http://www.hairremoval.org/ got in touch to ask if I'd be interested in featuring a guest post on here - and of course, I would! Hair Removal is a subject I sort of know a few things about, but am terrified of the idea of epilating or having my bikini line waxed.. (I hate pain), so I was really excited to read Marias advice and her post.. So here it is, enjoy! And thankyou Maria! Be sure to check out her sight too, it's so informative and helpful!

How Permanent Hair Removal Works

While there are many different hair removal methods and products available today like razors, creams, wax, lotions and sprays, most of their results don’t last very long. Daily or even weekly hair removal can become quite a hassle, so it is no wonder that more permanent hair removal options such as laser hair removal, electrolysis and IPL (intense pulsed light) have been popular for many years,. All three of these methods have their pros and cons and knowing them is essential for anyone considering a prolonged reduction form of hair removal.

Laser hair removal, IPL and electrolysis are efficient in the removal of unwanted hair, and can lead to a permanent reduction or sometimes permanent removal. While no one can guarantee that hairs will never grow back, what these methods have in common is that with repeated treatments hairs should disappear and then not re-appear for a long time. While it is hard to predict how long hairs will stay away, it can easily be many months or even years which can be the much needed relief for anyone who is tired of the constant battle against excess hair.

Laser hair removal and IPL are very similar, while electrolysis is a completely different technology. Both laser hair removal and IPL depend on a high degree of heat being generated while in operation, and as the device is placed on the skin, the hairs will absorb the heat energy and get damaged as a result. The biggest difference between laser hair removal and IPL is that laser hair removal uses a real laser, while IPL is a light based device, but other than that, the two methods are highly comparable. Electrolysis on the other hand works by delivering electricity through a fine probe that is inserted into the hair follicle. Hairs must be treated one by one which explains why the method is slow and unpractical for areas other than the face.

What all three permanent hair removal methods have in common is that several treatments are needed to ensure satisfactory results. The exact number of treatments needed is difficult to predict in advance, but during the initial consultation the laser hair removal practitioner should be able to give an estimate. The practitioner can also give an estimate regarding the total cost, but the price will definitely be influenced by the size of the area that needs treatment, the amount of hair, and the coarseness of it. When it comes to pain or discomfort, that all depends too. Some find laser hair removal a breeze, while others find it painful. The discomfort can be managed in different ways: in addition to numbing cream, newer laser machines have built in cooling features that help with the pain. But most individuals who battle against unwanted hairs will agree that a little discomfort in exchange for smooth skin is more than worth it.

Maria Bastet is a hair removal enthusiast that blogs on all matters concerning hair removal. You can find more of her articles located at HairRemoval.org.


Friday 6 May 2011

Boots & Superdrug Haul :-)

Hello dearies!

Yesterday me and Dan got new phones, yey :-) But I'm so gutted my big crazy pink girly phone case won't fit on my new phone anymore :-( Not sure what to do with it!


Here's the back of my new phone, looking very unpink! It has lovely white leather though! :-) But it's just waiting for my orangey foundation hands to dye it a gross peach :-(

Here's the front, very pretty and posh! :-)


With mine and Dan trading in our phones we got some cashback, which I quickly went and spent the majority of on some goodies I've been after for ages!
I wasn't planning on actually buying any curlers, but the lovely lady at Boots just got me chatting and I ended up buying them! They're just what I'm after though, and for £15.31 I thought they were a bargain :-) Can't wait to have long flowing tumbleing curls! :-) Just got to train Dan to do the back bit for me ;-)


I got lots of things I've been pining for from Superdrug.. so excited for them all! :-)
I use Veet In-Shower Hair Removal Cream, it's amazing, and comes with a little sponge to help you remove the hair. It's so easy to use, and so much quicker/pain free than waxing! I'd really recommend it, although the smell is pretty bad!
I also got some Batiste dry shampoo, I love the Hawaiian scented one, as well as the pink bottled one, so I thought I'd have a go with a different one - the Diva, I'll let you know what I think :-) But in general I love Dry Shampoo so much, it really helps my pink hair too as means I don't have to wash it as much and get all the colour out! I also use dry shampoo to add some volume for flat hair days too :-)
I also got my mitts on the John Freida 3 day straight spray, it was around £5. I just had to buy it, I've heard so so much about it, lots of blogs and magazine articles have been dedicated to it. Apparently, you spray it on your hair after washing, then dry and straighten the product so it's locked into your hair, and then it'll keep your hair sleek and straight for 3 days, let's so how it goes! :-)
I got some baby oil after reading a snipped of Jordan/Katie Prices style book saying she bathes in a bath with loads of baby oil in, and I just love the idea, and reckon it'd benefit my eczema and dry bits amazingly, so that's what'll be in my next bath :-)
I hardly ever use hair products but want to start having a go with some, so I got Schwarkopf's got2b 2 sexy hair mousse - I want to pump it into my roots and curls when I want some great volume and big curls, looking forward to trying that out! :-)
The little radox bottle on the fair left is some jasmine scented hand sanitizer, I use this all the time, and this is perfect handbag size!
I use exfoliating gloves in the shower with Sanex bath and shower gel before fake tanning, but my last pair of white ones were ready for the bin, so I couldn't resist these cute pink ones from Superdrug!
After reading http://evatsx.blogspot.com/ I couldn't wait to try out Superdrugs lip balm in 'Strawberries and cream'! And I love it! It gives a cute baby pink sheen, tastes/smells amazing, and leaves lips really moisturised and nourished.
And the last thing in that picture is that lovely pink lipgloss from the brand 'MUA' in Superdrug, it was only £1 so I couldn't resist getting it to try it out! It'll be perfect to keep in my handbag I reckon :-)


Another purchase from the MUA range which I bought after reading evatsx blogspot was this eyeshadow in Shade 1 - Pearl. It looks so pretty and such a great colour to pop on your inner eye, can't wait to try it out! :-)


From Boots I got Soap and Glorys 'Breakfast Scrub', it was £6 and after smelling it I just couldn't resist buying it! I've been after a really really gentle exfoliater for my face and eczema and I think this looks perfect as it is a paste with ground up oats in rather than beads or sugar or anything too harsh - and my gosh it smells INCREDIBLE. Like honey and oats and oh so sweet buttery goodness. It's worth paying the money for just to smell it! :-) Next time you're in Boots have a sniff, it's beautiful! :-)
I got some more Simple soaps as I've ran out of my last pack, and they're the only things that'll get pesky hair dye off my hands/face/neck/furniture! They just swipe it off so quickly and are super cheap :-) Plus they smell super fresh and clean.
I got some eylure Naturalites eyelashes - these are the 'double' ones so they're super thick and voluminous and give the effect as though you have two pairs of lashes on already. :-) So even though they're £7 they definitely are worth it rather than putting two pairs of £5 ones on. Love em! :-) I also got some £2 vanilla scented body spray - it smells so sweet scrumptious and delicious!


Last but not least I got some more In Shower Hair Removal Cream (a 2 for 1 deal from Superdrug ;-) ) but this one is Aloe Vera scented, some Mitchum deodorant - I LOVE this stuff! Will never use any other deoderant again, the powder fresh scent is my favourite :-) And then a bigger bottle of hand sanitiser for my makeup kit :-)



Don't you find it amazing how all us girlies have our own regimes, our own favourite products, our own fave scents, our little beauty secrets, our own ways of pampering ourselves! I wish I could learn about everyones, I find it so interesting! :-)


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